Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill told The Buffalo News on Saturday that he was not caught off guard by Rasmus Ristolainen's comments to a Finnish news outlet earlier this month, but added the team is working to better their relationship with him.

Trade rumours have swirled around Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen all summer and he did little to quiet those reports in an interview published Saturday in Finland. Ristolainen told Finland's MTV Sports that opening the season with the Sabres is far from a guarantee.

Jason Pominville is looking to extend his NHL career to a 16th season this fall, but the 36-year-old told The Athletic he won't sign just anywhere to do so. His agent, Normand Dupont, believes one team Pominville would be open to joining, though, is the Montreal Canadiens.